METH SUSPECT PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN FATAL CRASH

San Diego 
A driver accused of being under the influence of methamphetamine when his car was hit by a Poway fire engine, killing his 19-year-old passenger, pleaded not guilty Monday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Robbie Dean Gillespie, 45, of San Diego also faces felony drug possession and a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of drugs stemming from a separate incident a couple of days before the June 20 crash.

Killed that day was Evelyn Jean Courtney, an aspiring model from Poway.

San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski set Gillespie’s bail at $350,000. If convicted, Gillespie could be sentenced to up to 10 years and eight months in prison.

Prosecutor Dan Link told the judge that on June 18, Gillespie was with several people — including two teenage girls — in a Poway hotel room, when sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant. The prosecutor said Gillespie had 1.89 grams of methamphetamine and was arrested.

Courtney was not with the group at the hotel.

The defendant posted bail the next day. Later, he met up with Courtney, whom he has called a friend, and was reportedly driving her home in a Honda Accord about 4:15 a.m. when the crash occurred.

Link said Gillespie blew through a red light at the intersection of Poway and Midland roads and collided with a fire engine.

The prosecutor said the engine was traveling slightly above the speed limit at 39 mph to 42 mph and was being followed by an ambulance. The fire engine had its flashing lights on but not its sirens. Courtney died at the scene.

Gillespie was arrested last week at a Rancho Bernardo apartment. He moved there after the crash, the prosecutor said. Gillespie’s wife and two children moved out.

Link said sheriff’s deputies went to the home on three occasions after Gillespie’s latest arrest, and found drugs there twice.